Improvement in toy hoops



G. WHEELER.

roY-HooP.

Patented June 6,1876.

\ l lllllll I I I4 1 Hlllll A In VenZor NVPETERS. PNOTO-LITNOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE WHEELER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN TOY HOOPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 178.352, dated June 6, 1876; application filed November 5, 1575.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WHEELER, of New York, in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and Improved Toy, of which the following is a specification:

I furnish a hoop, which maybe of a size and material not differing from ordinary trundlehoops, but preferably gaily-eolored and decorated, and suspend it by means of a swivel and cord, so that it may be spun or rotated rapidly in a horizontal plane, while suspended by a single cord suitably attached at one point. 1 add bells or analogous decorating and musical accompaniments, suspending the whole so that the hoop may work either side up, and so that the bells, or the like attachments, may be measurably protected from injury.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my hoop. Fig. 2 is a section through the same, the bells and the swivel being secured thereto in a different manner, as shown in Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in both the figures.

A is the body of the hoop, formed of ash or other material, smoothly spliced. B is an easily-turning swivel, connecting the suspension-cord O with the fastening a, which may project to any desired extent from the inner surface of the hoop. A suitable handle, D, is attached at the other end of the cord (J. M M are brightly-burnished bells, attached loosely to the hoop A by eyes a. Holding the handle D at a proper elevation by one hand, and holding the hoop horizontally by the other, a

dexterous whirl of the hoop, followed by a corresponding movement of the handle D, and continuing the movement actively, soon induces a spinning movement of the hoop, which maintains it in or near a horizontal plane, al-

though suspended by only one point. Accidentalor intentional agitations of the hoop cause the bells to ring.

The details may be modified within considerable limits. The proper place for the sus' pension of the bells is within the hoop, as indicated. They may, however, be hung on one edge, or on the exterior face of the hoop. So, also, the cord may be attached in either posi tion without entirely defeating the objects of the invention.

The position of the eye a, being at the midheight on the inner face of the hoop, allows the swivel to pull directly, and the toy to work satisfactorily either side up. So, too, the attachment of the bells or analogous decorative or musical parts at the midheight on the inside of the hoop allows them to work successfully either side up, and to be measurably protected from injury when the hoop at any stage of its gyrations touches the floor, or by a lateral movement out of its intended place touches any object.

The toy pleases the eyes and ears, and illustrates a highly important principle in mechanical sciencethe tendency of revolving bodies to maintain their plane. It requires for itsoperation a degree of mechanical skill which tends to excite the ambition and cultivate the talents of the child.

I propose to make the body in some cases of silverplated or nickel-plated metal.

I claim as my invention 1. The withindescribed toy, consisting of the hoop A and the suspension-cord 0, connected by swivel B, and adapted to serve in the manner and for the purposes specified.

2. The decorative and musical attachments M, in combilwtion with the hoop A, swivel B, and suspending-cord or other means, 0, serving together as and for the purposes herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEO. WHEELER. Witnesses:

PHILLIPS ABBOTT, O. C. STETsoN. 

